Homeopathy and Guillain-Barre Syndrome after Vaccination

IN BRIEF

A man in his 30s develops pain, numbness and tingling in his extremities within days of receiving a DTaP shot. He is quite possibly on his way to a full-blown case of Guillain-Barre Syndrome when a homeopathic remedy nips it in the bud. 

Vaccination Mandated for Work

A few years ago I saw a man in his early thirties for an acute reaction to a DTaP vaccine (Diphteria, Tetanus, acellular Pertussis). Two days after the shot his arm became sore and he had trouble lifting it. A day later he started to experience numbness and feelings of pins and needles in his left hand, the following day the same sensation was felt in his right hand as well. On day five, now in my office, he felt tingling and shooting pains in both of his arms and hands as well as both lower legs, feet and toes.
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He described the sensation as if being pricked by a pin with strong shooting pains radiating down his limbs. He could not sleep last night on account of the shooting. He presented with his left arm in a sling to prevent pain on motion.

A Rare Autoimmune Disorder

He was possibly developing Guillain-Barre syndrome, a rare auto-immune disorder that may be triggered by infections or vaccinations. In this condition the body’s immune system attacks part of the peripheral nervous system.

In Guillain-Barre symdrome tingling and weakness in the limbs can progress to paralysis of the limbs and may also ultimately affect breathing, in which case it can become life-threatening. Some patients can be disabled with weakness for many years and may need crutches to walk.

I selected one dose of Hypericum 200CH, which he took in the office and within 5 minutes the shooting and tingling pains in his arms and legs had stopped completely. Hypericum is a terrific remedy for nerve injuries and the typical sensations are shooting pains, sometimes related to a puncture wound. This client presented a classical Hypericum picture and was almost immediately relieved of these symptoms as described.
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He was encouraged to take the remedy as needed if the shooting sensations recurred. I also chose a homeopathic remedy made from the DPT vaccine in 200CH potency, which he took daily for three days. In addition he took supplements of Ascorbyl palmitate, vitamin C, fish oil plus extra vitamin D and A.

Two Days Later

​The left arm is still sore but he can lift it now. Yesterday he developed a pounding headache and diarrhea lasting from lunch until 9-10 pm, but he slept well and could even sleep on the left arm. This might have been a detox reaction. There is no more tingling.

He recovered well after this and did not return to my office for a full DPT clearing with all the potencies as I had intended. However, I did speak to his wife a year later and she reported that he was doing well and only had a mild residual weakness in his left arm.

Hypericum perforatum as a homeopathic remedy can be helpful for nerve injuries

Guillain-Barre Syndrome after Flu Shot

Guillain-Barre syndrome affects a small number of people each year and vaccines are known to be a potential trigger, especially flu shots. It was a little more unusual that this case was triggered by a DPT shot.

Around 1994 I attended a seminar in New York with the famous Greek homeopath George Vithoulkas. In front of an audience of over 300 people he took a live case of a nurse who had developed Guillain-Barre Syndrome after being forced to take a swine flu shot against her will some years prior. She was physically restrained and injected and subsequently paralyzed for months.

At the time of the seminar she had regained her ability to walk, but needed crutches and her movements were very slow and awkward. She walked down the aisle to the front of the class and we all saw her difficulty and were very moved by her story. I do not remember what Vithoulkas gave her but three months later he came back to teach in Toronto, Canada, and I attended that weekend seminar as well.
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The same nurse was there and this time walked unaided and almost gracefully down the aisle. This event left a deep and permanent impression on me, not only in regards to the potentially devastating effects of vaccines but also to the power of homeopathy.

Written by Anke Zimmermann, BSc, FCAH, Homeopath in Sooke, BC